LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 22:4 April 2022
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Word Formation in Bugun: Compounding and Affixation

Riniva Thakuria

Abstract

The present paper makes an attempt to examine the major word formation processes developed in Bugun, a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Bugun community of West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Word formation process, also known as Morphological Process, is a means by which new words are produced either by modification of existing words or by complete innovation, which in turn becomes a part of the particular language in study. Under the cover term ‘word formation process’, a number of methods can be examined such as compounding, blending, clipping, affixation, coinage, backformation, acronym, borrowing, derivation, conversion, incorporation, reduplication, metathesis etc. It is found that throughout the history of Bugun language, new words have been incorporated into the language depending on different contexts. This paper will mainly focus on compounding and affixation, the two most common devices to create new words in the Bugun language.

Keywords: Bugun, Tibeto-Burman, morphological process, compounding, affixation.

1. Introduction to the Bugun Language and Community

Bugun or Khowa is a Tibeto-Burman language spoken by the Bugun community of Arunachal Pradesh. The Buguns are the indigenous inhabitants of the West Kameng district (Grewal 1997:89). The West Kameng district covers an area of 7,422 sq. kms. i.e., it accounts for 8.86% of the total area of the state. The name of the district is derived from Kameng River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra that flows through the district. The district lies approximately between 91° 30' to 92° 40' East longitudes and 26° 54' to 28° 01' North latitudes. The altitude ranges from 650 to 13,714 feet. West Kameng shares an international border with Tibet in the north, Bhutan in the west, Tawang district in the northwest, East Kameng district in the east, and Sonitpur and Darrang districts of Assam in the south. West Kameng district is the home of five major tribes, namely, Monpa, Miji, Aka, Sherdukpen and Bugun (Khowa). Amongst these, the Buguns have the lowest population count of 1,432 speakers according to 2011 census (Barbora 2015:3). The Buguns reside mainly in the Singchung Administrative Circle of the district. There are roughly 10-12 villages located at about 32 kms from Bomdila, the district headquarter of West Kameng.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Riniva Thakuria
Assistant Professor, Department of English
University of Science & Technology Meghalaya, Techno City
Ri-Bhoi, Meghalaya-793101
avinir18@gmail.com, Contact: +918486646916
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